WWE sometimes delivers unexpected moments, and this week’s SmackDown had a couple of big ones. Not only did a returning wrestler, who had been out injured for over a year, make a comeback, but they immediately won the championship! It was a truly memorable return and one of the most surprising moments of the year.
Tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown featured a significant change in the roster, all starting with Sami Zayn issuing an open challenge for the WWE United States Championship. After a brief appearance by The Miz, Ilja Dragunov unexpectedly returned after a year-long injury to challenge Zayn. Dragunov then achieved a major upset, defeating Zayn and becoming the new United States Champion.
Ilja Dragunov Returns To WWE In Rare Form And Is Once Again A Champion
Since winning the United States Championship, Zayn has consistently proven himself as a true competitor, facing tough opponents like John Cena. Tonight, The Miz answered his open challenge, but surprisingly, the match never began.
Before he could reach the bottom of the ramp, Carmelo Hayes attacked, hitting him in the back and sending him to the floor. Hayes then pulled him back up the ramp and threw him into the LED screen before security intervened to stop the fight.
When Miz was unable to compete, Zayn was surprised to see Dragunov appear – he hadn’t wrestled since September 29th when he’d torn his ACL. The injury happened soon after Dragunov moved up from NXT to Monday Night Raw, and although he had a few good matches, he didn’t have much time to shine before being injured.
Dragunov ATE Sami Zayn’s boot!
OMG!#SmackDown
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) October 18, 2025
With Dragunov now officially on the SmackDown roster, he’s already making waves by defeating Zayn. Their match was a classic Dragunov showcase of powerful moves, highlighted by a particularly impactful moment when Zayn delivered a brutal mid-air kick to Dragunov’s shoulder and face.
The MFTs distracted Zayn, creating an opening for Dragunov to attack. After a first attempt that didn’t quite work, Dragunov successfully hit his signature Torpedo Moskau on Zayn, followed by an H Bomb to secure the victory. With this win, Dragunov is the new United States Champion, and his comeback is already proving to be incredibly impressive.
Okay, so the good vibes didn’t last. Just when things were looking up, the MFTs stormed the ring and took out everyone – even those who rushed in to help! That led to a face-off with the Wyatt Sicks, which honestly, is setting up something really intriguing. But honestly, the biggest win of the night? Seeing Dragunov back in action. No matter where this goes, that’s a huge positive.
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2025-10-18 05:10